Stu, I love what you've done with that pointer- I want to do that with mine!
I found my 1mw bright enough even with neighbours lights on, street lights and the full moon. It's not kapowww bright, but I didn't need to struggle at all to see the beam. Shelley was here with me trying it out too and she had no problem, in fact she ended up buying one the next day. We had just as much fun with the disco lights, hmmm Xmas with it will be awesome!
Steve, 50mw really?!
I'm guessing you're used to such brightness and perhaps that's why the 5mw appears very dim to you- me, I know no better.
I live very close to an airport- they'll find me easily if started throwing one of those around. It's like a business card saying, I'm doing very bad things and here is where you can find me.